We Got Endless New Dinner Ideas Last Night, Did You?

If you missed the live cooking webcast last night, you missed a tremendous evening of fun, food, entertainment and education in basic cooking methods...a virtual cooking guide. In fact, I showed everyone watching how basic cooking methods can help you make dinner quick every night and still have endless dinner ideas.

Here’s a bit of what went on last night:

As always, knife skills were an important part of the evening and the chef’s knife made an appearance. Being able to cut items consistently assures that they cook consistently. In addition, they have similar texture and appearance in the final dish.

Proper knife skills also assures your safety and boosts your confidence in the kitchen. Why? Because with the correct knife skills, you know you won’t cut yourself and you will be more aware of a wide variety of ways to cut everyday items for attractive plate appeal.

How you use heat is the essence of cooking. And if you want dinner quick, then the basic sauté method is the best way to go. The basic sauté method can also help to increase the number of dinner ideas that you have, as well as create a great meal in your kitchen faster than take-out food. When you’re able to control the direct, intense heat of a stove-top sauté method, you can create moist, flavorful items that have wonderful color and are appetizing to the eye as well as the palate.

I’ve pulled out one of my 5 chef secrets during the live webcast and made a quick pan sauce. Because I understand the basic principles of thickening agents, I can make any liquid into a thickened gravy or pan sauce. Talk about a great addition to your dinner idea! This is a great skill in the kitchen that adds flavor, texture, and color to your plated meals so that your dinners is not only quick, but tasty as well.

Cooking is a wonderful lifelong journey that is very easy to explore and enjoy. Searching for recipes is an annoyance that never has you progress. You always have to search for a new recipe and relearn a new meal every evening.

I want to be your cooking guide and eventually help you to have enough confidence and knowledge that you can become your own cooking guide. You can be full of great dinner ideas and make dinner quick. Last night, I proved to the world that you can cook healthier and better tasting meals faster than take out and I’ll prove it to you as well.

I have learned knife skills, lots of new techniques and now cook with confidence. Do it! Join up, You will love Chef Todd and his method of teaching and his funny additions.Joyce Spears, Ft Worth, Texas, US

"Before Web Cooking Classes, I considered myself an excellent cook. But now, I have more joy, confidence and pride when I prepare a dish. I have gained the ability make more tasty and more nutritional meals, and (most valuable) is the understanding of the hows and whys involved in cooking processes and ingredients."Debbie Holland, Phenix City, Alabama, US

“When I discovered Web Cooking Classes, I was an adequate cook, looking to eliminate the "Hit or Miss" factor in cooking. We used to eat out three times a week and now cook at home almost every night. We also entertain for friends at least once a week, and even our most mundane meals are improved through better cooking methods. Web Cooking Classes is a great investment and will change your life for the better."Steve Page, Cartersville, GA, US

“I liked to cook but lacked the confidence to experiment. Learning techniques in Web Cooking Classes changed all that and completely eliminated my stress over cooking. I now cook 5 to 10 times every week using the skills I learned from Chef Todd."Dave Allison, Cary, NC, US

“When I discovered Web Cooking Classes, I was a total novice with one main goal: to be able to cook and serve up nice meals for my family. What I ended up with was confidence in the kitchen, which I didn’t have before. I used to panic! My cooking has increased 100% considering I did none previously. If you want to be able to cook nice meals for your family, and you are considering investing in Web Cooking Classes, I say, ‘go for it!’”Ken Handley,

"Web Cooking Classes has eliminated the expense of cooking with recipes from my life. I now have confidence in my cooking, ability to think beyond the recipe and the skills to focus on cooking with what we have in the house, which is a big money saver. I have quit cooking with recipes, and have expanded my cooking repertoire by cooking at least 3-4 times per week, using what I've learned in the online course. I've already been telling friends about your course, and telling them the fun that cooking has become through structured success--and through freedom from recipes."Paul Mattson, Fridley, MN, US

"I cook for myself and (cooking classes) made me want to cook more. I've always cooked, but it's more fun now...it gives you confidence...I feel much more at home in my own kitchen."Marlene Nippe, Morrisville, NC, US

"I was already a good cook, but wanted to cook with flexibility, not having to rely on recipes, and being able to use whatever's in the kitchen. With Web Cooking Classes, I have learned basic knife skills, saute method, making pan sauces and so much more! I no longer need to look through tons of recipes to decide what to make to eat. This is a great price on culinary skills through videos that are fun and educational."Lissa Conger, Cobb,California, US

Since joining Web Cooking Classes, I am taking more risks to try new things and using only what is in my cupboard/fridge, which saves me money and time. I cook something new - made up in my own head - at least 2x / week now."Shane Johnston, Canada

"I go to the store and look at the meats, and before, I didn't know a top round from a flank steak...now I can say 'yeah I know what to do...I want this piece of meat as opposed to that piece of meat and I know what to do with it...I can tell the difference between braising, broiling, sauteing..."Paul Madritch, Cary, NC, US

Take it from a week 48 grad, this is really worth it. You can learn to cook like a pro just going through the 16 weeks. I had always been a good cook, but this program helped me to take my cooking to a whole new level. It's very affordable, too!Kathy Rafter, Rockford, MI

"I can't seem to get enough of your classes! You have a way of not only teaching how to cook but make it fun at the same time. I am currently in week 5 and could quit now and be a 100% better cook than what I was but I look forward each week for the new lessons. Thank you so much for making your classes affordable so that anyone interested in learning how to cook like a pro can do so without having to break the bank."David Tees, Conroe, Texas

"I cannot believe I started your course less than a week ago with all I have already learned. Problem? I cannot stop watching it. Even though I spend a lot of time in my kitchen mastering my skills, taking courses (I had few in local college this year), traveling a lot overseas (always learning local cuisines as part of my journey) - I can find a whole bunch of new things in every lesson I take. And this is endless, I love it.”Igor Eren, Ontario, Canada

"I'd NEVER made pasta dough, mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce. Amazing. You're a very good teacher. Thanks so much for the encouragement and thanks for the continual push for me to do new things."Carol Orr, Brewster, NY

"I cannot take the time or money to go to culinary school. I have searched high and low to find a place that would teach the HOWs and WHYs and the detailed knowledge of cooking . You have amassed this knowledge in one place. I have learned so much in the 5 weeks, excited about the many weeks ahead."John Deyeso, New York, NY

I'm the most unlikely guy to ever be taking a cooking course, I used to feel stressed and tight in the kitchen unless I was doing the dishes. I realized though that in reviewing my roles as a father/husband I couldn't be trusted to feed anybody and I am always trying to become more relevant and competent in all the roles I play. I saw an opportunity with cooking and signed up and I couldn't have been more shocked how quickly I wanted to be in the kitchen to cook! I have cooked several times a week, and brought my own items to the holiday parties that were a hit. The gained confidence is making me more excited and my family can trust me more now, how cool is that!!! Thanks Todd!Todd Stice, Fruitland, ID

I really appreciate the time and effort Chef Todd has put into this video series. He explains the hows and whys of all things cooking. This was exactly what I have been looking for since I began working a year ago. I am a homecook turned baker. I havent been to culinary school and was given the opportunity to work in a restaurant in Dallas. My daughter is also watching to learn along side me. Thanks Chef!Kelley Butler, United States